Crews will permanently close the Lemoyne Exit on I-83 sometime tonight after 9 p.m. It's the last exit before crossing the south bridge into Harrisburg.

The closure is part of roadwork to widen the York Split, which is about a half mile from the exit. The ramp closure will have a lot of commuters changing their route.

So after tonight, if drivers are approaching Harrisburg on 581 and want to get off on the West Shore, their only opportunity is to get off at the new Lemoyne Exit, which is part of the new York Split.

The change is being made so drivers won't have to weave through lanes of traffic to reach the exit.

All roadwork is scheduled to be finished next summer.

PennDOT issued the following news release with more specifics:

"Harrisburg – PennDOT announced today that during the evening of Thursday, July 31, weather permitting, construction crews will permanently close the existing northbound Interstate 83 ramp to Exit 42 for Third Street in Lemoyne.

Northbound I-83 motorists headed to Third Street in Lemoyne will now use the new Exit 41-B ramp to Lowther Street, turn left at the new traffic signal at the end of the ramp, and turn left at the next traffic signal onto Third Street.

PennDOT reminds motorists that the new Exit 41-B is prior to the Route 581 interchange, approximately one-half mile before the old ramp.

Following the closure of the existing Exit 42, eastbound Route 581 traffic to Lemoyne will no longer have access to the ramp from I-83 North. Route 581 East motorists headed to Lemoyne will use Exit 6-C, turn right onto Lowther Street, then turn left onto Third Street.

PennDOT advises motorists to use caution when traveling through the work zone and to watch for new signing that will advise of the new ramp movements.

Motorists will continue to use the new ramps upon completion of construction and these new traffic movements will be permanent. This work is weather sensitive, and adverse conditions could postpone implementation of the new traffic patterns.

PennDOT has developed several short videos depicting the existing ramp movements being eliminated at this time and the associated new ramp movement. These videos are available at the following link: http://www.i-83beltway.com/localramp.html. All of these ramp modifications are being made to eliminate the conflicts associated with the existing, short weaving areas of entering and exiting traffic

This work is part of the $22.1 million contract that was awarded on July 12, to J.D. Eckman Inc., of Atglen, Chester County, which will make several safety and congestion mitigation improvements to the I-83/Route 581 interchange and adjacent ramps.

The entire project is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2015."

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